Railway container



1933- F. DITCHFI'ELD 2,126,949

RAILWAY CONTAINER Filed May 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -f/v1/E/v TO/- FRANK O/TCHF/ELO 1938. F. DITCHFIELD RAILWAY CONTAINER Filed May 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0mm h ATTX Aug; 16, 1938.

F. DITCHFIELD RAILWAY CONTAINER Fi'l ed ma 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet s I. lallldll! A Aug. 16, 1938. F. DITCHFIELD RAILWAY CONTAINER Filed May 23, ,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

W 8 N K i 1 n E; m

ATTX

Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY CONTAINER Application May 23, 1935, Serial No. 23,001

1'7 Claims. (Cl. 294-69) This invention relates to railway container. Through the development of containers of the railway type an effective mode of transportation of bulk materials such as dolomite, grain, etc., 5 has been provided. These containers customarily comprise charging ports located in the tops of the containers and discharge ports situated in the bottoms of the containers. Suitable closures are utilized to close these ports. The clo sure for a discharge port has usually taken the form of a pair of doors hinged to the lower edges of the container sides to constitute the bottom of the container. The actuation of these doors is eifected by means of chains secured to the free adjacent edges of the doors and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper ends of said chains carrying lifting eyes or hooks. These eyes are adapted for engagement with hooks provided on a hoist or crane secured to a cable wound upon a drum upon a crane. Obviously, then, by proper control of the drum and, hence, the chains, the bottom doors may be maintained in closing position or may be released to permit, discharge of the material in the container.

The considered containers are provided, additionally, with hooks adapted to be engaged by lifting hooks on the crane by means of which the containers may be lifted, lowered and transported to the desired place. The lifting hooks are controlled by additional winding drums provided on the crane and their operation is necessarily independent of the operation of the drums utilized with the door chains. By this means a container may be lifted and while so maintained 35 the bottom doors may be released to discharge the material in the container.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the said containers present two serious objections to their efiicient use. The arrangement of the doors and their mode of actuation require, in the first place, that the material in a container be wholly discharged at one time and, secondly, that a multiple drum hoist or crane be employed in the handling of a container. The first of these objections involving the discharge of all the ma-- terial requires subsequent handling of such material where its amount is in excess of that required at any particular point. The second objection entails an increase in the cost of handling 50 equipment.

It is, consequently, among the objects of this invention. to provide containers so constructed as to eliminate the above noted objections; to provide containers having a charging port or ports 55 in the top thereof and discharge ports in the bottom thereof; to provide closures for said discharge ports by means of which controlled discharge of material may be had and to provide discharge port closures operable independently of the lifting hoists or cranes whereby single drum hoists or cranes may be utilized.

A further object of the invention is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures moving in the same direction when opening, and closing said discharge ports.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by closures rigidly mounted upon a single shaft rotatably journaled in the container whereby upon operation of said shaft the closures are rotated simultaneously in the same direction when opening and closing said discharge ports.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures moving in the same direction when opening and closing said discharge ports, said closures being so disposed relative to the container as to avoid obstructing fiow of the material from the container.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to provide discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures so related to the discharge ports that a given amount of exposure of discharge port may be obtained by only one-half the angular movement of the closures normally required.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed with adjacent discharge ports in the bottom thereof, said ports being defined in part by a common member and being adapted to be controlled by closure members mounted for simultaneous rotation in the same direction upon the same shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed with adjacent discharge ports in the bottom thereof, said ports being defined in part by a common member and being adapted to be controlled by a rotatably mounted means having closures for each port, said closures being separated by an opening which, when said ports are closed, lies below said common member and which, when said ports are open, is disposed in alignment with one of said ports.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures and means for operating said closures, said means being releasable from the closures only when the latter are in closed position.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom thereof, adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures and means for automatically locking the closures in their closed position.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each being formed to present discharge ports in the bottom there- 01', adapted to be controlled by rotatably mounted closures and means for automatically locking the closures in their closed position, this means being movable to unlocking position by the operating means for the closures.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk material, each having a top formed with a charging port defined by a frame and a closure for the port associated with a frame to provide an effective weather seal.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a container embodying the invention, looking at a side thereof. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, looking at an end of the container. Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail elevation of one of the closure supporting brackets. Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the closures in open position. Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a side of the container showing the association of the operating means with the closures. Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the weather seal arrangement between the frame and the cover of the charging port. Figure 9 is a modification showing an automatic locking means for the closure in its operative position. Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the automatic locking means in inoperative position and the position of the closure operating means at this time. Figure 11 is a vertical section taken on line li-ll of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a detail elevation showing the positions of the operating means in the closed and open positions of the closures for the discharge ports. Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken on line i3-I3 of Figure 9. Figure 14 is a fragmentary view of the closure means.

The instant invention is illustrated in a container embodying side walls ill-l0. Each of the side walls is preferably comprised of sheet metaland formed in two sections, the upper section II being provided with reinforcing corrugations i2, while the lower section l3 may advantageously be plane. The side walls I 0-H! of the container extend from the top to the bottom thereof.

The container embodies end walls "-14 which, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, are provided with reinforcing corrugations 15-15. The end walls H extend from the top of the container and terminate above the bottom of the container, as indicated at iG-IG.

The side and end walls are arranged so as to provide a container substantially rectangular in cross section. The upper margins of the side and end walls are secured to angular reinforcing members, the upper margins of the side walls being secured to angular members l1-l1 and the upper margins of the end walls being secured to the angular members 18-18. The adjacent vertical margins of the side and end walls are connected together by means of vertically extending angular members l9-i9 which extend the full height' of the container. Angular reinforcing members 20-20 are secured to the lower margins of the side walls iii-l0 and to the lower ends of the vertically extending angular members 19-19. Angular reinforcing members 2l-2l extend between the vertical members I9-l9 and are secured to said members. Gusset plates 22-22 are utilized to secure the members 2l-2l to the vertical angular members I 9-l 9.

A top cover member, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 23, is employed for the container and embodies preferably a plurality of metallic sheets which may be corrugated, as indicated at 24. The cover member is formed with depending marginal side flanges 25 secured to the top reinforcing angular members l1. The cover member is also provided with depending marginal end flanges 26 secured to the angular reinforcing members i8. It is preferred that the container, which is to be utilized for the shipment of bulk materials, be formed with a hopper construction and to this end slope sheets 21-21 are utilized. Each of the slope sheets extends between the side walls of the container and is secured at its upper margin to the lower margin of an end sheet by means of flanges 28-28. From these points of securement the slope sheets 21 extend downwardly in converging relationship andterminate above the bottom of the container defined by the angular members 20-2I. At their lower ends the slope sheets are spaced apart, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to provide an opening for the discharge of material. As clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the slope sheets 21 are preferably reinforced by means of integral corrugations 29.

Mechanism is provided in accordance with the instant invention in order to control the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper which is provided by the hereinabove described association between the slope sheets and the end and side walls of the container. For this purpose there is secured to each of the side walls at the ends of the opening in the hopper a supporting bracket 30. Each of the brackets 30 comprises an attaching flange 3| by means of which the bracket may be fastened to a side wall. An attaching flange 32 provided at the lower margin of the bracket is utilized to secure the bracket to the angular reinforcing member 20. Each bracket, additionally, is formed with a plurality of spaced extensions 32, 33 and 34, disposed as clearlyindicated in Figure 4 of the drawings. There is provided, additionally, a bearing member 35 for a purpose hereinafter explained. A substantially cylindrical flange 36 extends from said bearing member in spaced relationship to an opening 31 formed therein. A depending flange 38 is provided on the cylindrical flange 35, the flange 33 being disposed in spaced relationship to the bearing member 35 and being provided with recesses 39-39 preferably disposed in diametrically opposed relationship. The association .of a bracket member 30 with a container is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, from which it will be seen that the bracket member is secured so as to extend inwardly from its point of attachment to the side wall and the angular reinforcing member 20. The spaced extensions 32, 33 and 34 thus are directed toward each other while the cylindrical flange 36 is directed outwardly. It will further be apparent from Figure 2 of the drawings that each of the sheets |3 of the side wall l terminates as indicated at 40 above the bottom of the container where the bracket member 38 is located for the purpose of permitting access to a shaft journaled in the bearing members, as hereinafter described.

The opening formed in the bottom of the hopper of the container is preferably divided into two adjacent discharge ports 4| and 42. This division is effected by means of a ridge member 43 preferably in the form of an angle disposed so that its legs 44 and 45 extend in downwardly diverging relationship. The ridge member 43 extends between the bracket members 38 and the ends of said ridge member are arranged in overlapping relationship with the extension 32 of each of the bracket members and are secured thereto as by means of rivets 46. Additional angular members 41 and 48 extend between the bracket members 36, the ends of said angular members being disposed in overlapping relationship with the extensions 33 and 34. The ends of these angular members 41 and 48 are riveted to the extensions 33 and 34 to obtain securement thereto. The angular members 41 and 48 serve as a means to which the lower ends of the slope sheets 21 are secured as by means of rivets 49.

The discharge ports 4| and 42 thus formed are adapted to be controlled by closure members 58 and The closure member 58 preferably com-- prises an arcuate wall 52 adapted to extend across the discharge port 4|. tends transversely from the arcuate wall 52 and is disposed preferably midway of the length of the closure. A reinforcing rib 54 is provided, this rib extending along the length of the closure member from the transverse reinforcing rib-53 to each end of the closure member. Similarly, the closure member 5| comprises a curved wall 55 reinforced by means of a longitudinally extending rib 56. The closure members 50 and 5| are formed as part of an integral member in which the transversely extending rib 53 joins the closure members 58 and 5|. In addition, closure members 50 and 5| are continuous transversely of the member at the ends thereof and each of these ends is formed with a transversely continuous rib 51 provided at its lower portion with a bearing member 58. Intermediate the end and central transverse ribs, openings 59 are formed. The integral memberproviding the closure 56 and 5| carries at each end thereof a projection 68 adapted to cooperate with a projection 6| formed on each of the bracket members 30, as hereinafter indicated.

It is purposed to so mount the closure members 50 and 5| relative to the discharge ports whereby these ports will be controlled by rotation of the closure members. To this end the closure members are mounted upon a shaft'62 which preferably extends between and is journaled in the bearings 35 provided in the bracket members 30. The transverse reinforcing rib 53 is adapted to bear upon the shaft 62. The closure members are secured upon the shaft for rotation therewith by means of bolts 63 which extend through the bearing portion 58 at each A reinforcing rib 53 exmay be utilized.

The construction of the closure members and the bracket members is such as to prevent accidental loss of the material in the container. Each of the bracket members 38 is, consequently,

provided with a flange 66 adapted to overlap the ends of the closure members. In addition, accidental loss of the material in the container is avoided by means of metallic strips 61 secured to the lower legs of the angular members 41 and 48. In the closed position of'the closure members 50 and 5| these members are adapted to abut against the metallic strips 61 which, therefore, serve not only to prevent loss of the material in the container but, as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, function to limit closing movement of the closures. This limiting movement of the closure members to closing position is obtained by engagement between the curved wall 55 of the closure member 5| and its corresponding metallic strip 61. Limiting movement of the closure member 50 is obtained by means of engagement of a flange 68 formed on the curved wall 52 with the adjacent metallic strip 61.

Means is provided for manually actuating the closure members 50 and 5| in order to impart simultaneous rotation thereto to open and close the discharge ports 4| and 42. This means may take the form of a crank 69 having a cylindrical end portion 18 adapted to be slid upon an end of the shaft 62. The end of the shaft is provided with diametrically opposed fiat faces while the cylindrical portion of the crank 69 is provided internally with corresponding fiat por- It has been indicated tions adapted to engage the flat faces at the end of the shaft. While only one end of the shaft is illustrated, it will be apparent that both ends thereof may be similarly formed so that the actuating crank may be engaged with, either end of the shaft for imparting rotation to the closure members. In order to slide the crank upon the shaft the cylindrical portion 10 thereof is provided with oppositely extending ears '|2-|2 which correspond to the recesses 39-39 provided in the cylindrical flange 38 on the bracket members 30. When the ears '|2-"|2 have been aligned with the recesses 39--39 the crank may be slid upon the end of the shaft in order to effect rotation thereof and consequent rotation of the closure In Figure '7 of the drawings the position of the crank 69 when it is initially engaged with the end of the shaft 62 is indicated in full lines while I the position of the crank after the closure mem bers have been rotated to their fully open position is indicated by dot and dash lines. The ears |2|2 in the latter position of the crank are shown to be disposed behind the cylindrical flange 38 and interlocked therewith. It is evident,

' therefore, that intermediate the closed and full open position of the closure members 50' and 5| it is impossible to disengage the crank from the shaft. By virtue of this construction it is manifest that the crank can be disengaged from the shaft only when the closure members are in their closed position, thereby assuring against loading of the container when the closure members are open.

It has been set forth herein that means is provided in order to limit the closing movement of the closing members 50 and 5|. Means is also provided to limit the opening movement of said closure members, this opening movement being limited by the engagement between the projec tion 60 formedat the ends of the closure members and the lug 6| provided on each of the bearing members'30.

The closure members 50 and 5| when in their closed position are adapted to be maintained in said position by the equal pressure upon the curved walls 52 and 55 of said closure members exerted by the material in the container. It is preferred, additionally, to construct the rib 56 of the closure member 5| of greater section and, hence, greater weight than the longitudinal rib 54 of the closure member 50. In this manner additional weight is given to the closure member 5| tending to over-balance the closure member 5| when the closure members are in closed position and thereby maintain said members in said position.

A positive locking means may, however, be utilized for this purpose. Such a locking means is illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive. In the form illustrated there is utilized a hollow shaft I3 within which is fastened a plug I4. A cylindrical member I5 is inserted within the end of the shaft I3 and is slidably maintained therein. Studs IE-I8, which may advantageously be threaded into the cylindrical member I5, extend therefrom through openings II-1Iformed in the shaft I3. These openings, as clearly illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, are elongated in the direction of thelength of the shaft thereby permitting the sliding relationship of the cylindrical member I5 within the shaft, while at the same time compelling rotation of the cylindrical member with the shaft. A spring I8 is disposed between the inner end of the cylindrical member I5 and the adjacent end of the plug I4. One end of the spring bears against the cylindrical member, while the other end bears against the plug. Where the face of the shaft I3 is not smooth it is preferred to provide the plug I4 with a stem I9 upon which the spring I8 is placed and which extends into the cylindrical member I5 which is then in the form of a hollow cylinder. By this means irregularities in the face of the shaft will not adversely affect the sliding movement of the cylindrical member. The end of the shaft I3 is recessed diametrically at opposite points, as indicated at -80. The outer end of the cylindrical members I5 overlaps a portion of the recessed end of the shaft. Bearing members 8| secured to the side walls of the container,- as hereinabove described, are formed to provide locking abutments for the studs or detents IS-I6. To this end the bearing portion 82 of the bracket member 8|, within which the shaft 73 is journaled, is formed with opposed semi-cylindrical recesses 83-83 adapted to receive the detents 16-16 in the closed position of the closure members. This is clearly illustrated in Egures 9 and 13 of the drawings. When thedetents are positioned within the recesses formed in the bracket member 8| it will be clear that rotation of the closure members 50 and 5| to open position is prevented.

In order to permit rotation of the closure members 50 and 5| to open position for the purpose of discharging the material within the container, a crank member 84 is employed. The crank member is provided with an angularly related cylindrical portion 85 formed at its ends with oppositely disposed ears 86-86. These ears are adapted to be received within the recesses 80-80 formed in the end of the shaft I3 when the crank members are associated with said shaft for the purpose of rotating the closure members. The ears 86-86 are adapted to be inserted through recesses 8I-8I formed in the cylindrical flange 88 provided on the bracket member 8|. This cylindrical flange 88 is otherwise continuous as described in connection with the cylindrical flange 38 of the bracket member 30 whereby, upon angular movement of the crank member 84, interlocking engagement between ears 86-86 thereof and cylindrical flange 88 will be had, preventing disengagement of the crank member from the shaft until the closure members are in their closed position. As the ears 86-86 enter the recesses 80-80 provided in the end of the shaft I3 they engage the end of the cylindrical member I5 and force said member inwardly against the pressure of the spring I8. As the cylindrical member moves inwardly the detents I6 are moved therewith in the recesses II-II provided in the shaft, thereby causing disengagement of said detents from their cylindrical abutments 83 provided in the bracket member 8 I. Upon the disengagement of the detents from their abutments the shaft I3 and, consequently, the closure members 50 and 5| mounted thereon, may be rota ed so as to expose the discharge ports 4| and 42, whereby the lading within the container may be discharged.

After the closure members 50 and 5f have been rotated to their closed position so as to effect alignment between the ears 88-88 on the crank 84 and the recesses 81-8! in the cylindrical flange 88, the crank may be removed. Upon the removal of the crank the spring I6 will again be effective to urgethe detents I6 into the semi.- cylindrical recesses I3 provided in the bracket member 8|. Attention is invited to the fact that while oppositely disposed ears, as illustrated on the crank member 84 as well as on the crank member 88, are provided, the structure of the crank is not limited to this disposition of the ears. It is preferred, however, inasmuch as this arrangement of the ears on the cranks permits the closure members to be operated both from below as well as from above. If this facility of operation is not required, it is evident that only a single ear and, consequently, a single recess in the cylindrical flange need be provided.

The employment of the positive locking mechanism above described obviates the need for the heavy counter-balancing rib 56 provided on the closure member 5|. In its place a rib R, illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings, may be utilized, this rib being similar to the rib 54 provided on the closure member 50.

It will be apparent from the construction above described that the amount of exposure of the discharge ports effected by rotation of the closure members may be varied at will between the extreme positions of said closures. By this means the amount of the material within the container to be discharged at any given time or at any given place may be controlled. It will also be apparent that by the provision of discharge ports asset forth a given amount of exposure of the discharge ports may be had with only half of the angular movement of the closure members that would be required for a single discharge port.

Lifting hooks 89 secured to each of the upper corners of the container may be utilized to obtain securement of said container to a hoist mechanism in order to lift the container and deposit it at any desired point.

The charging port for the container is provided by an opening 90 preferably rectangular in shape provided in the cover member of the container. The margins of the sheet metal formed in the cover member by means of the openings which extend parallel to the ends ofthe container may be reinforced by means of angular members 9 l-9l extending preferably from side to side of the container and secured thereto by means of clips 92-92 disposed on opposite sides of the ends of the reinforcing members. A frame.93 is secured to the metallic sheet 23 around the opening 90 formed therein. The frame-93 is substantially angular in cross section and embodies a horizontal leg 94 riveted to the adjacent margin of the metallic sheet 23 and to the reinforcing angular members 9|. The frame comprises also a vertically extending leg 95 from which a flange 96 disposed intermediate the ends of the leg 95 ex-- tends outwardly. A closure member 91 is hinged to the frame 93, as indicated at 98, said closure member being adapted to be disposed upon the frame 93 in order to close the opening formed in the cover member of the container; The closure member is provided with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 99 and a peripheral shoulder I90. The flange in the closed position of the closure 91 lies outwardly of the vertical leg 95 of the frame. In this position of the closure, the shoulder I09 lies within the angle provided by the upper portion of the leg 95 and the outwardly extending flange 96, while the flange 99 extends downwardly below the flange 96. By this construction it will be clear that an effective seal against the ingress of the elements is provided. The flange 96 and the lower portion of the vertical leg 95 of the frame member provide a channel portion IDI protected by means of the peripheral flange 99 and effective to change the direction of air tending to enter the opening and thereby the velocity of such air. The flange 96, shoulder I00 and upper portion of the leg 95 cooperate, additionally, to provide a tortuous path for any air carrying foreign particles such as rain and the like whereby to prevent the entry of air and such particles into the-container. It will be apparent, therefore, that the container is well adapted to carry materials which would be adversely affected by moisture and the like.

The instant invention, therefore, presents closure means for discharge ports of a container which is extremely simple and sturdy in construction, and economical. There is utilized with this construction only a single shaft upon which the closure members are mounted. The closure members, therefore, rotate simultaneously in the same direction when the discharge ports are opened and when they are closed.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications of the details of the instant invention may be resorted to by those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended to comprehend all such changes and modifications within the purview of the invention, which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a freight container of the character described comprising a top, side sheets extending from top to bottom of said container, end sheets extending between said side sheets and slope sheets secured to said end sheets and to said side sheets and cooperating with the latter to provide a hopper, a plurality of adjacent discharge ports in the bottom of said hopper, a closure for each of said ports, a shaft journaled in said container, said closures being secured to said shaft and being rotatable by operation of said shaft to simultaneously open and close said ports.

2. Freight transportation means for bulk materials comprising a bottom, a plurality of adjacent discharge ports formed in the bottom of said means and closures for controlling said ports, said closures being mounted upon a single shaft for simultaneous rotation by operation of said shaft in the same direction when opening and when closing said ports. ,7 f

3. Freight transportation means for bulk materials comprising a bottom, a plurality of discharge ports formed in the'bottom of said means, said ports being defined in part by a common member, a closure for each of said ports, a shaft for rotatably mounting said closures, said shaft being operable to impart simultaneous movement to said closures to open and close said ports whereby a given amount of discharge opening may be obtained with only one-half the angular movement of each of said closures.

4. A freight container for the transportation'of bulk materials comprising a hopper, an opening in the bottom of said hopper, a member carried by said container in spaced relation to said opening to provide a pair of discharge ports, opposite bearings on said container, an operating shaft journaled in said bearings, means comprising a curved member secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a discharge opening formed in said curved member providing a pair of closures for said hopper discharge ports and means for rotating said shaft.

5. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials comprising a hopper, an opening in the bottom of said hopper, a member carried by said container in spaced relation to said opening to provide a pair of discharge ports, opposite bearings on said container, an operating shaft journaled in -said bearings, means comprising a'curved member secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a discharge opening formed in said curved member providing a pair of closures for said hopper discharge ports, said opening being covered by said first-mentioned member when said closures extend across said hopper discharge ports to prevent discharge of material.

'7. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials, said container comprising a hoppe r'having an opening in the bottom thereof 4 extending substantially between the ends of said hopper, a member extending parallel to and above said opening to provide a pair of discharge ports and means for controlling said ports, said means comprising an integral member rotatably mounted upon said container and including a curved wall, said wall being formed with an opening extending lengthwise'thereof to provide a discharge opening and a closure for each of said ports.

8. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials, said container comprising a hopper having an opening in the bottom thereof extending substantially between the ends of said hopper, a bracket secured to said hopper at each end of said opening, downwardly diverging flanges extending inwardly from each bracket above said opening, an angular member having legs extending between and secured to said flanges to provide a pair discharge ports, and means for controlling said ports, said means comprising an integral member rotatably mounted upon said container and including a curved wall, said wall being formed with an opening extending lengthwise thereof to provide a discharge opening and a closure for each of said ports.

9. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials, said container comprising a hopper having an opening in the bottom thereof extending substantially between the ends of said hopper, a bracket secured to said hopper at each end of said opening, extensions projecting inwardly from said brackets, a ridge member extending above said opening and secured at its ends to said extensions to form a pair of discharge ports,,said brackets having aligned bearings below said extensions, an operating shaft extending parallel to and below said ridge member journaled in said bearings and means secured to said shaft for rotation therewith for controlling said ports, said means comprising an integral member including a convexly curved wall, said wall being formed with an opening extending lengthwise thereof to provide'a discharge opening and a closure for each of said ports.

10. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials comprising opposed walls, slope sheets extending between and secured to said walls, the lower ends of said slope sheets being spaced apart, a bracket secured to each wall, triangularly related extensions provided on each of said brackets, one of said extensions being, disposed above the lower ends of said sheets, a ridge bar extending between and secured to said latter extensions, bars extending between andsecured to the remaining extensions, the lower ends of said slope sheets being secured to said latter bars and a closure member having a convexly curved wall for controlling each of the discharge ports thus formed.

11. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials comprising opposed walls,slope sheets extending between and secured to said tion of said closure to walls, the lower ends of said slope sheets being spaced apart, a bracket secured to each wall, triangularly related extensions provided on each of said brackets, one of said extensions being disposed above the lower ends of said sheets, a ridge bar extending between and secured to said latter extensions, bars extending between and secured to the remaining extensions, the lower ends of said slope sheets being secured to said latter bars i thereby providing a pair of adjacent discharge ports, an operating shaft journaled in said brackets, closure means for each port embodying a convexly curved wall adapted to extend across each port and means for securing said closure means to said shaft for simultaneous rotation in the same direction.

12. A freight container for the transportation of bulk materials comprising opposed walls, slope sheets extending between and secured to said walls, the lower ends of said slope sheets being spaced apart, a. bracket secured to each wall, triangularly related extensions provided on each of said brackets, one of said extensions being disposed above the lower ends of said sheets, a ridge bar extending between and secured to said latter extensions, bars extending between and secured to the remaining extensions, the lower ends of said slope sheets being secured to said latter bars thereby providing a pair of adjacent discharge ports, an operating shaft journaled in said brackets, closure means for each port embodying a convexly curved wall adapted to extend across each port and means for securing said closure means to said shaft for simultaneous rotation in the same direction, the

horizontal projection of said ridge member and convexly curved wall of one of said closures being equal whereby when said closures are rotated to open said ports, said wall will lie below said ridge member and present an unobstructed port opening for the discharge of material.

13. A freight container for the shipment of bulk materials comprising a hopper, a discharge port in the bottom of said hopper, a closure for said port, means journaled in said container for' rotatably mounting said closure, a removable member engageable with said means for imparting movement of rotation thereto and means on said container cooperating with said member for preventing disengagement thereof until said closure is in port closing position.

14. A container for the shipment of bulk materials comprising a hopper, a discharge port in the bottom-of said hopper, a closure for said port, a bracket secured to said hopper at each end of said port, means journaled in said brackets for rotatably mounting said closure and a removable operating member engageable with said means for imparting movement of rotation thereto, one of said brackets having a flange spaced from said means, said flange being recessed at a predetermined point, said operating member having a correspondingly positioned ear insertable through said flange recess in the closed posieifect engagement between said operating member and said means, said ear lying behind said flange and being interlocked therewith upon angular movement of said operating member whereby disengagement of said operating member from said one bracket is prevented except when said closure is in port closing position.

15. As an article of manufacture a closure means for a freight container for transporting bulk materials comprising integrally formed convex members, a discharge opening between said members and longitudinally spaced radial ribs extending from said convex members, said closure means being adapted to be rotatably mounted to control discharge ports provided in said container.

16. As an article of manufacture a closure means for a freight container for transporting bulk materials comprising integrally formed convex members, a discharge opening between said members, longitudinally spaced radial ribs extending from said convex members and longitudinal reinforcing ribs connecting said radial ribs, said closure means being adapted to be rotatably mounted to control dischargeports provided in said container.

1'7. In a bulk material freight container adapted to be transported in freight cars and the like having side and end walls, a closed tpp, spaced 20 downwardly converging slope sheets and lift devices secured to the upper portion of said container for engagement by lifting mechanism for handling said container, said slope sheets termi- \nating above the base of said container and promviding a discharge opening located between said walls of said container, a shaft carried by said container below said discharge opening and above v said base, a rotatable closure mounted upon said shaft, said closure having a convex wall positionedabove said shaft and below said opening for closing the latter, said closure being manually rotatable independently of the mechanism for lifting said container and being capable of shutting off the flow of material from said container, said closure moving toward the base of said container when rotated to permit discharge of the material, and means on said container for preventing said closure from projecting below the base of said container when in full open position.

FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

